[CR]Re: now: TIG, was: measuring ugliness

(Example: Framebuilding:Restoration)

Date: Wed, 10 Nov 2004 14:52:42 -0500 (EST)
From: <wheelman@nac.net>
To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
Subject: [CR]Re: now: TIG, was: measuring ugliness

Well this one won't just die so some more from me.
>From a functional viewpoint I see no problem with either. From a visual viewpoint I prefer lugs but the key word here is prefer. I also prefer chocolate ice cream over vanilla. That does not mean I won't eat vanilla or vanilla is worse or bad. It just means if I have a choice I will go with a lugged bike. It is a bias built up over time and experience with both types of bicycles and from hanging around with people like you all.

I notice both sides defending their positions with fevor and that is fine. If you own a TIG bike then what are you supposed to say, hey my kid is uglier than yours. Of course not, you cherish and protect what is yours and have a built up bias for that.

As for the elite comment, I guess you can say that someone who has spent a lot of time studying all aspects of something and can speak and write with authority on the subject can be called an elitist without that being a maligned term. I think there is confusion between the term elitist and snob.

Many of you own some of those old Schwinn "Lightweights" that are fillet brazed. That does not make you less worthy of appreciating a lugged bike no more than owning a lugged bike makes you anti TIG. They are all good if you like them.

Ray Homiski
Elizabeth, NJ